A Day in the Life of a Simulator Engineer

When you picture a “typical” day for a simulator engineer, Unai Imatz will be the first to tell you — there isn’t one. At Virtex, every day brings a new challenge, a new car, and a new set of problems to solve.

Unai’s role can be split into three broad phases. The first happens between customer sessions, when the focus is on maintenance, optimisation, and research. The simulator is a complex blend of hardware and software, and Unai spends a lot of time understanding every capability of the system. The goal is simple: to be able to offer the best possible experience for customers.

“It’s also when I help with development test drives of the various vehicle models we build,” he says. “Each one is different, so you’re always learning.”

The second phase is preparation — making sure everything is ready before a customer walks through the door. That means shakedown runs, checking track and vehicle models, and fixing any small bugs that could slow a session down.

Then comes the part he enjoys most: working directly with customers. “When the customers are actually in the facility, I explain the features of our cockpit and guide them through the sessions,” Unai explains. “I like creating an environment where the engineer and driver can fully focus on their jobs, and making everything as smooth as possible.”

No two days are alike, but one thing is constant — attention to detail. Whether it’s refining the feel of the brake pedal to match a real race car, or making sure live radio comms are clear, the job is about making the simulator feel as real, intuitive, and productive as possible.

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